A tentative agreement has been reached between Alcoa and United Auto Workers Local 1050, subject to a membership vote, to return to work at Alcoa’s Cleveland wheel manufacturing plant on January 2nd under the terms of the company’s 2001 labour agreement. Negotiations between the company and union are ongoing, with more meeting scheduled. Both parties aim to reach a new collective bargaining agreement
The strike at Alcoa’s US wheel manufacturing plant in Cleveland is not affecting production levels, according to a company report. Since negotiations between Alcoa and the United Autoworkers Union (UAW) broke down on November 6, salaried employees from the Cleveland plant and from other Alcoa facilities began operating the Cleveland works.
Alcoa reports that normal production levels of commercial vehicle wheels and forged specialty wheels resumed after only a short time, and at present the company is enjoying record commercial vehicle wheel production levels.
Union employees at the Cleveland plant have been striking over issues related to health care, absenteeism, wages, and pensions.
Alcoa has announced that its Alcoa-Köfém operation located in Szekesfehervar, Hungary was ranked as the “Most Efficient Company” by major business weekly Figyelö of the 200 largest corporations in the country based on ratios of Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to invested capital, a financial indicator. The award is based on 2005 figures.
Alcoa Wheel Products is a finalist in the 2007 Automotive News PACE Award competition. The 13th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award is presented by Microsoft, SAP, Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) and Automotive News.
Alcoa Wheel Products has a policy of contributing to the communities in which it operates and a good example is the company’s support of Action Cancer, Northern Ireland’s leading cancer charity, with the donation of a set of Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels. The charity recently made a substantial investment in a new high tech “state of the art” purpose built vehicle called Big Bus. This mobile unit was constructed by Browns Coach Works in Northern Ireland and is pulled by a new Volvo FH 400, the first Euro 5 in Europe. This unit was supported by Volvo GB and supplied by Volvo’s Northern Ireland dealer Dennison Commercials. Alcoa’s donation of Dura-Bright wheels will help keep the Big Bus looking good and easy to clean.
Alcoa Wheel Products has announced that it will install a new Dura-Bright line at its manufacturing facility in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. The new line will be the third such facility and will provide a significant addition in wheel capacity. Both passenger car and commercial vehicle wheels will be processed through this new line in Hungary. The new facility will begin producing Dura-Bright XBR wheels in 2008.
(Akron/Tire Review) Alcoa Forged Specialty Wheels has expanded its product warranty to a lifetime-limited warranty covering all of its automotive aftermarket wheels. The new warranty program went into effect 1 September. Under the extended warranty, Alcoa said the warranty covers the life of the wheel against defects in materials or workmanship, and will repair or replace a defective product that fails in normal use and service.
Alcoa’s new Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology provide customers with wheels that are 53 per cent more reflective and with 74 per cent more image clarity, according to the wheel manufacturer. In fact from 1 September Alcoa Wheel Products will officially begin transitioning from its original Dura-Bright wheels to new Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology. Alcoa says its new treatment means brake dust, grime and oil residue wash off quickly and easily with a spray of soap and water. As before, Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology combat liquid road de-icers and chemicals.
In response to customer and market demand, Alcoa Wheel Products will exhibit its new WorkHorse wheel for European construction vehicles with disc brakes. More specifically, this new wheel was designed with no ventilation holes to help protect the drive/front axle disc brakes from sand and gravel. Alcoa believes this new design will provide its customers with added value through the reduction of maintenance costs, increased brake life, and improved performance. This wheel is already approved and available on DaimlerChrysler construction vehicles.
Alcoa announced today that it will become the first aluminium wheel manufacturer to buy back its used wheels. Alcoa’s new “Value for Life” programme for Fleets and Owner-Operators in the UK will come into effect this month. According to the company, “Value for Life” is all about providing customers with high quality products that offer a lifetime of value and care for our environment.
Alcoa Wheel Products Europe is to raise its forged CV aluminium wheels prices between 8 and 12 per cent, depending on the product specification. New prices will be implemented for all shipments after 31 July 2006.
Alcoa Wheel Products Europe, together with DaimlerChrysler, has developed a new wheel for the Axor construction vehicle. This new wheel does not have any hand holes and it has been developed to protect the Axor construction vehicle’s disc brakes from sand and gravel on the drive/front axle. The application is as an inner dual wheel on the construction vehicle drive or tag axle, single on the front axle. Available sizes: 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00 and 22.5 x 11.75 (inset 120mm), 32 mm bolt holes and a brushed finish.
As the automotive world converges in Detroit for the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Alcoa Wheels Products say that the company is enjoying fitment on many new 2006 models.
Alcoa Wheel Products, a Cleveland-based business unit of Alcoa, has fitments on new production model vehicles including the Nissan Altima SE-R, Chrysler 300C SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge Ram 2500, Dodge Magnum SRT8, Dodge Viper and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. Alcoa wheels are also being shown on Ford F250 trucks, including Ford’s Harley-Davidson Edition and on the GMC Envoy Denali, Hummer H2 and Pontiac Grand Prix GXP.
Alcoa Wheel Products announced today that its 17-inch Alcoa cast aluminium wheels are used on the new 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, recently selected by Motor Trend magazine as the 2006 truck of the year. The Alcoa wheels are featured on Ridgeline’s upgraded EX-L and EX-L Navi trim packages.
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Alain Belda, chairman and CEO of Alcoa has announced the retirement of Richard B. Kelson, chief financial officer and EVP. Joseph C. Muscari will succeed him in the role, effective 1 January 2006.
“Rick Kelson has been an integral part of Alcoa’s success over the past three decades,” said Belda. “We are sorry to lose him, but I am pleased that he has agreed to stay on well into next year to help provide for a smooth transition.” Mr Kelson will become chairman’s counsel in January and will continue to advise the company on the transition.
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